During this year’s Voodoo Music Experience, the Gulf Restoration Network and Voodoo held a press conference with Dr. John, Paul Sanchez, Big Sam Williams, John Michael Rouchell and others to draw attention to the ongoing plight of fishermen working the Gulf of Mexico, and a petition requesting the White House to commit to continuing help for the Gulf. That petition has been signed by such artists as Down, Dr. John, R.E.M., Pearl Jam, Trent Reznor, OK Go, Ozzy Osborne, the Soul Rebels, Anders Osborne and Amanda Shaw, and among its points are:

by Gulf Restoration Network

The BP disaster is on-going and will have lasting impacts. There are still tens of millions of gallons of oil in the Gulf and much more dispersed oil – and chemical dispersant itself – below the surface. The BP drilling disaster was at least 15 times bigger than the Exxon Valdez spill, and we know from Alaska that the ripple effects of the disaster will be felt for decades. It will be a long road to restoration, and the Federal government needs to stay focused on the disaster and environmental impacts that are just beginning to play out.

and

Let’s not let it happen again. Reforms are urgently needed to prevent more drilling disasters. BP is not a rogue actor when it comes to taking big risks at the expense of the Gulf. Regulatory reforms and policy changes are urgently needed to prevent future drilling disasters and ensure oil-rig safety in the Gulf and elsewhere, and to guarantee rapid cleanup when accidents do occur. Your administration needs to follow through with the overhaul of federal agencies, separating the functions of enforcement and royalty collection. Ultimately, the solution is to transition our nation to a clean energy economy as soon as possible.

Here is the full text of the letter, complete with the list of signers.